Owen Freeman

Three stars from Iowa basketball nail-biter vs. Penn State

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s 76-75 thriller vs. Penn State.

After three straight losses, Iowa basketball (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten) got back in the win column Friday night with a 76-75 victory vs. Penn State (13-7, 3-6 Big Ten) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes led for most of the night behind an impressive 28-for-56 (50%) shooting night from the floor, including 11-for-23 (47.8%) from beyond the arc.

The game’s finish was a bit too close for comfort as Iowa’s missed opportunities at the free-throw line gave the Nittany Lions late life that thankfully was not capitalized. Iowa finished 9-for-15 (60%) from the charity stripe.

Iowa forced ten Penn State turnovers that included five steals and five blocks, which the Hawkeyes were able to convert into ten points.

With the Hawkeyes short two-game homestand complete, here are the three stars from their nail-biting finish against Penn State.

Drew Thelwell

Thelwell finished tied for the team-lead in points Friday night with 16 points off of 6-for-10 (60%) from the floor, 3-for-5 (60%) from deep, and 1-for-2 (50%) from the charity stripe. He also registered five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in his 33 minutes of actions.

Thelwell’s performance also included a career milestone as he eclipsed 1,000 career points, which Iowa hopes the senior can inspire further confidence as the Big Ten regular season continues.

Freeman also finished the game tied for the team-lead in points with 16 points off of 5-for-9 (55.6%) from the field and 6-for-8 (75%) from the charity stripe. The sophomore star also registered nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks to close out his 33 minutes.

For Freeman, the performace against Penn State is a continuation of his stellar play so far this season and one Iowa is happy to see improving almost every game.

Josh Dix

Dix finished with 11 points off 4-for-10 (40%) from the floor, 1-for-5 (20%) from deep, and 2-for-2 (100%) from the free-throw line, but also recorded a career-high eight assists to accompany two rebound, one steal, and one block to close out his 37 minutes.

While his shooting night was a bit under par, his ability to facilitate the basketball to other members of the offense is truly what helped Iowa to a stellar offensive night from a shooting persepective.

Iowa will hit the road for the next game as they travel to Columbus, OH, for a Monday night clash vs. Ohio State (11-8, 3-5 Big Ten) from Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The game will be broadcast on FS1 and has a scheduled tip-off of 7 p.m. CT.

Monday Morning Rewind: Three stars during Iowa basketball dominance of Indiana

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s dominant win over the weekend against Indiana.

Iowa men’s basketball (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) steamrolled their way to an emphatic 85-60 win vs. Indiana (13-4, 4-2 Big Ten) in front of a packed Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd on Saturday night.

Offensively, Iowa kept their foot on the gas for most of the contest by shooting an efficient 32-for-59 (54.2%) from the floor, 11-for-24 (45.8%) from deep, and 10-for-18 (55.6%) from the charity stripe.

Even as the “points in the paint” scoring and overall rebounding margin favored Iowa, the true offensive weapon was the Hawkeyes’ ability to get timely three-point baskets kept the Hoosiers out of reach.

On the defensive side of the ball, Iowa forced 16 turnovers in addition to an astonishing 11 steals and six blocks. While the offensive rebounding was equal, at nine a piece, the Hoosiers were primarily a “one-and-done” offense, which was crucial in Iowa’s ability to go on stretch scoring runs.

With another victory under the belt, here are three stars that helped Iowa the most on Saturday.

Payton Sandfort

Another one. @payton_20_ x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Lq40SuSeqB

— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) January 12, 2025

After erupting in the second half of Tuesday’s win over Nebraska, Sandfort followed up with a complete performance vs. Indiana by scoring a team-leading 23 points off 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the floor, 4-of-9 (44.4%) from deep, and 5-of-5 (100%) from the charity stripe.

Sandfort also recorded six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in his 31 minutes of game action.

For Sandfort and Iowa’s sake, this performance is a relief as the senior forward had been uncharacteristically quiet in the two games prior to his second-half burst against the Cornhuskers.

Sandfort will need to keep this trend going as the team heads out West for its California road trip.

Owen Freeman

Freeman was a force again vs. Indiana on Saturday by scoring 16 points on 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the floor to pair with 12 rebounds, four blocks, three steals, and two assists to round out 27 minutes of action.

The performance is Freeman’s third double-double of the season and eighth of his career. His four blocks also gives him 18 total rejections over the past three games.

While this type of performance is nothing out of the ordinary for Freeman, his presence on the defensive side of the ball has allowed for a ferocious Hawkeyes defense to flourish as of late.

Drew Thelwell

After missing the previous game with an injury sustained through warmups, Thelwell rejuvenated the Hawkeyes spirit with six steals, three rebounds, and three assists to pair with a 12-point performance on 4-of-7 (57.1%) from the floor and 4-of-9 (44.4%) from the free-throw line.

His six steals are the most by a Hawkeye since Joe Toussaint in 2021 and are tied for the second-most in a game under head coach Fran McCaffery.

The Hawkeyes will fly westward for their next matchup on Tuesday vs. USC (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) from the Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

The game will tip off at 9:30 p.m. CT and air on FS1. Fans can also tune in to the Hawkeyes Radio Network for the game’s radio transcription.

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Three stars from Iowa basketball’s thrilling 97-87 overtime victory vs. Nebraska

Iowa basketball’s three stars from the Hawkeyes’ exhilerating Tuesday night 97-87 overtime win vs. Nebraska from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Following a disastrous performance against the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday, the Iowa men’s basketball team (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) roared back from a rather disgruntling first half to secure a resounding overtime victory vs. Nebraska (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten).

Aside from junior guard Josh Dix scoring 16 points on 6-of-9 (66%) from the field, including 4-of-6 (66%) from beyond the arc, the Hawkeyes‘ first half was marred by turnovers and lack of offensive production.

Despite shooting 12-for-28 (42.9%) from the floor, including 7-of-16 (43.8%) from deep, the combination of sloppy play and almost no secondary scoring outside of Dix allowed the Cornhuskers to quiet the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd while leading 34-31 at halftime.

Nebraska proceeded to build a 52-37 lead at one point early in the second half.

Then, a completely different Hawkeyes team appeared on the court as Iowa’s offense found a groove thanks to senior forward Payton Sandfort erupting with 30 points after halftime.

While Nebraska tied the game at 76 on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot, Iowa never took the foot off the gas as they outscored the Cornhuskers 21-11 in the overtime period to claim a spectacular 97-87 victory.

Iowa finished the game shooting 29-for-61 (47.5%) from the floor, 17-for-35 (48.6%) from long range, and 22-of-25 (80%) from the charity stripe. The Hawkeyes also forced 21 turnovers, including seven steals and six blocks.

As Iowa escapes with a victory, here are three stars that contributed to the team’s performance against Nebraska.

Josh Dix

Dix had a career-high 31-point performance, making 10-of-14 field goals, including a career-high 7-for-10 (70%) from deep and 4-for-4 (100%) from the charity stripe. He also had a career-high-tying seven assists, six rebounds, four steals, and one block in 45 minutes of action.

Tuesday night’s performance is the third 20-point game of the season and the seventh of the blossoming guard’s career.

Dix was specifically critical in running the Hawkeyes’ offense in the first half, as his 16 points were the lone positive takeaway from the game’s opening 20 minutes.

Payton Sandfort

After being held scoreless in the first half, the senior forward exploded for 30 combined points in the second half and overtime to finish shooting 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the field, 6-of-10 (60%) from deep, and 8-for-9 (88.9%) at the free throw line.

Sandfort also contributed six rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 35 minutes of action.

For Sandfort, the explosive second half is something that the Hawkeyes will need to transition into a full-game performance, as his scoring ability and leadership are the heartbeat of the Iowa program.

Owen Freeman

Despite not quite having his typical dominant performance on Tuesday night, the sophomore forward still finished with 15 points off 5-for-12 (41.7%) shooting from the floor and 5-for-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line in 39 minutes.

Freeman also added a team-leading eight rebounds with four blocks, one steal, and one assist.

While a better stat line from Freeman was to be desired, his physical presence on the defensive side of the ball aided the Hawkeyes’ second-half comeback and eventual win.

Iowa’s next matchup will occur from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday night vs. Indiana (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten). Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Fox.

As always, the Hawkeye Radio Network will provide excellent coverage over the airwaves for fans as well.

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Iowa basketball provides critical injury update prior to Wisconsin tilt

Good news for the Iowa forward heading into tonight.

Ahead of Iowa basketball’s (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) clash vs. Wisconsin (10-3, 0-2 Big Ten) from the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., the program provided a critical injury update on sophomore forward Owen Freeman.

Freeman, Iowa’s current leading scorer, missed his second game of the season on Monday, where he watched the Hawkeyes win a 112-70 beatdown of New Hampshire from Carver-Hawkeye Arena with an undisclosed injury.

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward averages 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals per game on 57.1% from the floor, 40% from deep, and 66.1% from the charity stripe through his 11 games thus far.

When asked about Freeman’s availability against the Badgers, head coach Fran McCaffery gave a short and confident answer that the skilled sophomore would be active.

“He’s good,” McCaffery said Thursday.

When Freeman was asked for his perspective on the one-game injury absence, he replied that it allowed him to rest and recover. He also revealed that the undisclosed injury that sidelined him against New Hampshire was a tweaked ankle but stated he feels comfortable enough to play in Madison.

“It was good (to get some rest),” Freeman said Thursday.

“Obviously me and Brad, our trainer, didn’t think my ankle was good enough to go (against New Hampshire). So I had to cheer my teammates on. It feels good now. I’m ready to go on Friday. Just had a little tweak, but I feel really good. Was able to practice and go full. I feel good.”

The Hawkeyes will certainly need the physical presence of Freeman against a quality opponent in Wisconsin, who has defeated the Hawkeyes three consecutive times from Kohl Center.

As always, the voices of play-by-play broadcaster Gary Dolphin and color commentator Bobby Hansen have the call as well on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Three stars in Iowa basketball blowout over New Orleans

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s 104-57 blowout over New Orleans.

Iowa basketball (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten) bounced back from Thursday’s loss against No. 3 Iowa State with a thorough 104-57 thrashing vs. New Orleans (2-7, 0-1 Southland Conference) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday evening.

As expected, the game was never close as the Hawkeyes shot a season-high 42-for-67 (62.7%) from the floor, 14-for-29 (48.3%) from 3-point range, and 6-of-9 (66.6%) from the free throw line. Iowa also outscored the Privateers 46-38 from within the paint and 38-6 on fastbreak points.

Defensively, Iowa forced 15 total turnovers with 11 blocks and nine steals while holding New Orleans to 25-of-67 (37.3%) shooting from the floor and 4-of-24 (16.7%) from deep.

Sunday’s triumph is the largest margin of victory for the Hawkeyes since their 109-61 win over Western Michigan in 2021.

As Iowa got back in their offensive groove, here are three Hawkeyes that stood out during the landslide victory.

Owen Freeman

Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Freeman led the team offensively by tying a career-high in points with 22 on a season-best 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) shooting and 2-for-3 (66.6%) from the charity stripe. The sophomore forward also recorded four rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal in his 19 minutes of playing time.

Sunday was his second 20-point game of the season and the fourth of his career, which should not surprise anybody as Freeman has blossomed into a bonafide scoring threat down low for the Hawkeyes over his 43-game career.

Brock Harding

Harding had a solid game against New Orleans by finishing with 13 points on 5-of-6 (83.3%) shooting from the floor and 3-for-3 from deep. The Moline, Ill, product also tallied six assists, one block, and one steal in 20 minutes.

Harding made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, to open the game and scored or assisted on seven of Iowa’s first eight field goals. The performance from the sophomore guard is also his seventh game with at least six assists.

Payton Sandfort

Sandfort had another fabulous game Sunday evening by posting 15 points on 5-of-8 (62.5%) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) from beyond the arc. The senior forward added five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block during his 20 minutes of play.

Sandfort’s hot night from deep extends his streak of three or more 3-pointers made to four straight games. It is also the sixth time he has accomplished such a feat this season and the 29th time in his career.

While the offensive production is expected from Sandfort, the notable feats accompanying his scoring touch are still worthy of praise, no matter the opponent’s strength.

The Hawkeyes return to action on Dec. 21, when they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a neutral site game from the Sanford Pentagon vs. Utah (7-2).

The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT and will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN). As always, the game will also air on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Three stars from Iowa basketball loss vs. Iowa State

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s Cy-Hawk Series loss.

Iowa basketball (7-3, 1-1 Big Ten) suffered a crushing 89-80 loss from Carver-Hawkeye Arena Thursday night vs. No. 3-ranked Iowa State (8-1, 0-0 Big 12) in the 2024 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.

While the Hawkeyes roared out to a 44-37 halftime lead on 58.6% from the field, a dominant Iowa State surge coupled with a troublesome Iowa second-half shooting performance allowed the Cyclones to escape from a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena victorious.

In addition to the poor second-half shooting by the Hawkeyes, being out-rebounded 29-18 by the Cyclones in the final 20 minutes certainly did not help their cause.

As a team, Iowa shot 28-for-63 (44.4%) from the floor, 11-for-28 from three-point territory, and 13-for-15 (86.7%) from the free-throw line. On the defensive side, Iowa collected 34 rebounds (26 defensive) in addition to five steals and four blocks for a combined nine forced turnovers.

While the cold second-half performance doomed the Hawkeyes, here are Iowa’s three stars from Thursday’s game that were difference-makers on the court.

Owen Freeman

Freeman led the team in points with 16 on 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the field, including a rare 1-for-1 (100%) three-point shooting night. The sophomore forward also converted on 5-of-7 (71.4%) attempts from the charity stripe while recording five rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 26 minutes.

While Freeman was expected to have a bigger role against the Cyclones, his stat line was still more than respectable, especially against a very skilled Iowa State lineup.

Brock Harding

Harding had another decent showing Thursday night by finishing with 10 points on 4-for-10 (40%) from the field to go along with eight assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 31 minutes.

Although Harding’s stat line does not necessarily pop off the box score, his ability to effectively facilitate the ball throughout the night proved to be well-appreciated by the Hawkeyes, especially in the first half.

Ladji Dembele

Despite only playing 14 minutes against Iowa State, Dembele had the best shooting night of his Hawkeyes career and tied his season-high in points.

The sophomore forward finished with 11 points off 4-of-4 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. In addition to his perfect shooting night, he also recorded four rebounds and one steal to round out his night.

Dembele’s ability to inject offense off the bench is one that the Hawkeyes will certainly look to utilize moving forward as the schedule becomes more rigorous later in the season.

Iowa will remain home for their next game on Sunday, Dec. 15, vs. New Orleans (2-6, 0-1 Southland Conference) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 1 p.m. CT.

The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network as well as through the radio on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Owen Freeman recalls when Cy-Hawk rivalry became real

Iowa basketball’s Owen Freeman reveals the moment he realized the intensity of the in-state rivalry with Iowa State.

As Iowa (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten) prepares for Thursday’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series clash vs. No. 3 Iowa State (7-1, 0-0 Big 12), Hawkeyes forward Owen Freeman shared the moment when the in-state rivalry became real.

As a sophomore hailing from Moline, Ill., Freeman admitted he did not truly understand the intensity between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones until joining Iowa last season.

When asked when he realized the rivalry’s intensity, he stated it was before the 2023 matchup when an Iowa State fan refused to enter a hotel elevator due to Freeman being an occupant.

“Kinda before the game last year,” Freeman said. “I remember we’re in the hotel and I’m the only one on the elevator. Some guy wearing a Cyclone shirt refuses to get on the elevator because I’m on there.”

Owen Freeman — who’s originally from Illinois — said the Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry became real to him and a Cyclone fan refused to get on the elevator with him at a hotel in Ames last season. pic.twitter.com/gSXYPyHckH

— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) December 10, 2024

While the instance is somewhat awkward between the fan and Freeman, the Hawkeyes forward stated that the little nuances of the rivalry are what truly made him understand the hatred between the two programs.

As for Thursday’s matchup against the Cyclones, Freeman will need to be a significant factor on both sides of the court in order for the Hawkeyes to spring the upset.

Freeman is currently averaging team-highs in points (16.8), rebounds (7.0) and blocks (1.6) per game. Freeman is shooting 64.4% from the field during the 2024-25 season.

The 2024 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series will begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT from Carver-Hawkeye Arena and will be broadcast on FS1. As always, the game will also be available on the radio on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Three stars from Iowa basketball landslide win over USC Upstate

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s lopsided win over USC Upstate.

Iowa men’s basketball responded to their ugly loss to Utah State with an emphatic 110-77 victory over USC Upstate (2-7) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday night, improving to 6-1 heading into conference play.

The Hawkeyes‘ offense was relentless from the opening tip, with the trio of Owen Freeman, Josh Dix, and Brock Harding leading the charge. The trio would finish the game with a combined 51 points on 22-for-32 (68.75%) from the field, including 5-for-12 (41.67%) from 3-point territory.

As a team, Iowa shot 43-for-71 (60.6%) from the field, 12-for-26 from beyond the arc and 12-for-15 (80.0%) from the charity stripe. Iowa established clear control regarding point production, outscoring the Spartans, 50-34.

Defensively, Iowa tied USC Upstate in rebounds with 34 each but forced 19 turnovers, which were eventually converted into 31 points. The Hawkeyes also finished with 12 steals and five blocks.

With Iowa looking impressive heading into Big Ten play, here are the three stars from Tuesday night’s blowout victory:

Brock Harding

Harding continued his dominant play from last Friday into Tuesday night’s game vs. USC Upstate by registering a double-double through a career-high and team-leading 20 points on 9-of-13 (69.23%) shooting from the field and 2-of-5 (40.0%) from deep.

On top of his scoring, he also added 10 assists, four steals, three rebounds, and one steal to round out an impressive night.

Harding’s emergence as a reliable offensive weapon is a major development as Iowa enters the bludgeoning nature that is Big Ten play.

Owen Freeman

Like almost every game this season, Freeman has been at the forefront of the Hawkeyes’ offensive attack and did so again Tuesday night by finishing with 17 points on 8-for-12 (75.0%) shooting from the field and 1-for-3 (33.3%) from deep in just 18:17 of floor time.

Freeman also added six rebounds and two blocks throughout the night as well.

With Freeman fully warmed up through the opening seven games, he should be a force to reckon with throughout Big Ten play and beyond.

Riley Mulvey

Mulvey was a key contributor off the bench Tuesday night as he added 11 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting. He also added three rebounds and one block to his total as well.

The Hawkeyes’ next game follows the Thanksgiving break, as the team will play their Big Ten opener on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. CT against Northwestern (5-1) from Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The game will be broadcast through Peacock (subscription required) and on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.

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Pair of Hawkeyes stood out despite Iowa basketball loss vs Utah State

A pair of Hawkeyes were bright spots despite Iowa basketball’s first loss of the season, a 77-69 setback against Utah State in KC.

Iowa men’s basketball (5-1) suffered its first loss of the season Friday night by a 77-69 score against Utah State (5-0) in the NABC Hall of Fame Classic at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

The Hawkeyes played their sloppiest offensive game this season as the team had 16 total turnovers and shot 28-for-64 (43.75%) from the field, including a dreadful 5-for-26 (19.23%) from 3-point distance.

Iowa held its own defensively by forcing 18 turnovers, including 13 steals and six blocks while limiting Utah State to 7-for-21 from deep.

Despite the disappointing loss against an equally scrappy Utah State bunch, here are three Hawkeyes who performed admirably in Friday night’s game.

Brock Harding

Despite the loss, Friday night’s game against Utah State was arguably the best Harding has played all season.

The sophomore guard finished with 19 points, five assists, four steals, and one rebound in 33:45 of game action. Harding shot 8-for-15 (53.3%) from the field, including a team-leading 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

Harding’s breakout performance is a welcome sight for Iowa as the guard had primarily been a ball facilitator and a factor on the defensive end through the season’s first five games. Iowa will hope Harding’s showing is the start of a trend as opposed to a one-off burst of offense.

Owen Freeman

Along with Harding, Freeman was one of the few Hawkeyes that thrived offensively Friday night as he finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists through 33:59 of playing time.

Freeman shot an efficient 9-for-12 (75%) from the field, which fueled the Hawkeyes’ offense, especially in the paint.

With Freeman expected to have solid performances in almost every game, it is still appreciated, especially when the Hawkeyes struggle to convert on their shots.

Iowa will look to rebound on Tuesday, Nov. 26 versus USC Upstate from inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena with tip set for 7 p.m. CT and the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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Three stars in Iowa basketball’s romp over Rider

Three stars from Iowa basketball’s romp over Rider.

Following a lopsided 83-58 victory versus Rider (3-2) on Tuesday night from Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa men’s basketball improved its overall record to 5-0 on the campaign.

The Hawkeyes established a dominant defensive presence and efficient scoring from the opening tip, which led to a comfortable 40-26 halftime lead. Iowa’s tenacious defense forced 10 turnovers by the Broncs, leading to 13 points off those takeaways in the opening half.

The second half continued Iowa’s smothering control of the game as the Hawkeyes would add 43 more points off 16-of-33 shooting from the field, including 5-for-9 from 3-point territory. The Hawkeyes would again force 10 Broncs turnovers, leading to seven more points off takeaways.

As a team, the Hawkeyes shot 30-of-64 (46.9%) from the field, including 8-of-22 (36.4%) from beyond the arc. Iowa also converted on 15-of-21 (71.4%) free throw attempts.

With another dominant performance, below are the three stars whose efforts guided the Hawkeyes to victory.

Payton Sandfort

Senior forward Payton Sandfort emerged in the second half to help widen the already comfortable lead for the Hawkeyes by finishing the night with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 2-of-7 from deep. He also had six rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in the contest.

While this level of production from Sandfort is somewhat expected, considering the senior is regarded as one of the primary offensive drivers of the team, it is still very well appreciated no matter the opponent.

Owen Freeman

Owen Freeman once again had an impressive showing on Tuesday night as he made 7-of-11 field goals en route to 19 points. The sophomore forward also had five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks to add to his stat line.

Freeman’s ability to dominate in the paint is clearly paying dividends for the Hawkeyes as 44 of Iowa’s 83 total points were generated from that area.

With conference play looming, Freeman’s recent play is exactly what head coach Fran McCaffery is looking for from the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Drew Thelwell

Coming off a clutch late-game performance against Washington State, Thelwell continued his impactful play off the bench on Tuesday night by recording seven assists and five steals in his 27 minutes of game time.

His stellar play defensively and as a facilitator for the offense allowed the Hawkeyes to establish their control of the game from start to finish.

Even though Thelwell scored only two points off 1-of-3 shooting from the field, his versatility in a sixth-man role has proven vital to the Hawkeyes’ recent success.

Iowa returns to action on Nov. 22, when the team travels to Kansas City, Mo., for the NABC Hall of Fame Classic game against Utah State (4-0).

The game will begin at 7 p.m. CT from the T-Mobile Center. It will be televised on the Big Ten Network and on the Hawkeye Radio Network.\

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